It’s a good weekend for budget entertainment. From the free Montford Music & Arts Festival (scroll down for more on that) to some rare and wonderful catches like Do It To Julia (pictured), there’s no lack of shows. Also, check out worthy benefits, quirky house parties, and local showcases.
Friday, May 15
• Local soulful rockers Wilsin play the free Asheville block party Downtown After Five with DJ Williams Projekt. Cadillac Jones headlines. 5 p.m.
• Folk rockers Blue Jay Way plays a standing Friday gig at College Street Grill (4 College St., Asheville, 232-0809) starting at 6 p.m. Free.
• Ben Hallman, a folk and country artist, performs as part of the Relay For Life event held at North Buncombe Middle School (51 N Buncombe School Rd., Weaverville). Classic rock group Chrome Loafers also play. The free concert is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.
• Americana musician Joe Hallock makes a showing at The Well-Bred Bakery & Cafe (26 N. Main St., Weaverville, 645-9300) with Kyle Brown. 7 p.m., free.
• You may have seen the posters—the woman wearing a pair of headphones like a bikini top? Yes, that’s the one. The image is attention-grabbing but tends to distract from it’s mission: Informing listeners about the show in question. So here’s are the titillation-free facts: Deep Asheville—a collective of local DJs, musicians and producers—bring the ambiance and groove to BoBo Gallery (22 Lexington Ave., Asheville, 254-3426). 8 p.m. Price: “lowlow.”
• Raleigh, N.C.‘s The Balsa Gliders (points for the name) performs a rare indie-pop show at Mo Daddy’s (77 Biltmore Ave., Asheville )—a club usually known for its blues bent. 8:30 p.m.
• Knoxville-based alt-rock outfit The Book of Law will be at The Boiler Room (11 Grove St., Asheville, 505-1612) with local bands Albatross Party and Einstein’s Dream. Says Albatross Party, “Our streak of Asheville gigs with out of town bands continues with Book of Law, from Tennessee. Also appearing that same night will be Einstein’s Dream, who, like us, are from Asheville, and are awesome.” 9 p.m., $5.
• Experimental band The Ringing Cedars puts in a 9 p.m. appearance at Fred’s Speakeasy (122 College St., Asheville, 281-0920) with Noise in Print. $3.
• The Jagermeister-sponsored Sharkadelics bring classic rock to The Hangar (I-26 Asheville airport exit, Arden, 684-1213). 9:45 p.m., $5.
• Spartanburg, S.C.‘s Fire Island AK joins Caretakers, Casual Curious, Motorcycle Gangs and Ian MacLellan for “No Kids Night at Rob’s House” (25 Mineral Springs Road, Asheville). 10 p.m. Cover: “gas money.”
• DJ Den & Rave-O-Lution gear up for a co-bill with indie-pop act The Artists of Color at The Garage at Biltmore (101 Fairview Rd. Suite B, Asheville, 505-2663). 10 p.m., $5.
• Technically this falls under Saturday, May 16. It’s at 4 a.m. But if you haven’t gone to bed yet… Catch local metal band Mindshapefist at Big Bubba Benefit, held at the Studio (Old Candler Town, Candler). “Very good friend of the band is in need so we are getting together to help,” reports Mindshapefist. “Other bands as well. Animosity-Metal covers A Bluegrass Band & [an] Allman Bros. Tribute Band. Food Spirits Campfire.”
Saturday, May 16
• Up-and-coming local indie-pop group The Baker Family Band promises its 8 p.m. set at The Boiler Room (11 Grove St, Asheville, 505-1612) will be its “Last show in Asheville for a long time.” The band is on tour at least through mid-June. Pendleton Get All the Action (from Richmond/NYC) also performs.
• Cabo Verde brings Latin fusion back to Zambra (85 Walnut St., Asheville, 232-1060). 8 p.m. Free.
• Joltwagon plays an 8 p.m. “Montford Ave. Porch Party.” No address given, but Montford Ave. isn’t all that long, and you might already be in the neighborhood for the Montford Avenue Music & Arts Festival (11 a.m.-7 p.m., free).
• Gainsville, Fla.-based grindcore act Worlds appears at Static Age Records (82-A North Lexington Ave., Asheville, 254-3232) with Hot Graves and Electric Damn. 8 p.m., cover is somewhere between $3 and $5.
• Lush pop, boy-girl harmonies, sweeping instrumentation: Boone’s indie-folkies Do It To Julia (what exactly they’re doing to Julia, I can only imagine) take the stage at the Root Bar (1410 Tunnel Rd., Asheville, 299-7597) at 8 p.m. $5.
• Folk rocker Bentley Adair plays Tolliver’s Crossing (733 Haywood Rd., Asheville, 505-2129). Not the right venue for non-smokers, but on the plus side there’s food and drinks and the shows costs nothing but a couple bucks in the tip jar. 9 p.m.
• Outlaw country ala local super-group The Good Old Boyz is at Westville Pub (777 Haywood Rd., West Asheville, 225-3066). 9 p.m., $5.
• New Brunswick, N.J.‘s Screaming Females are actually guys. And they play “rock rock rock.” They’ll do just that at New French Bar (12 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 225-6445) with Nasty Ponies and Tent City Rollers. 9:30 p.m.
—Alli Marshall, A&E reporter
Saturday night is also No Shame Theatre, which is just $5.
10:00 p.m. to do it and 11:00 p.m. to watch other people do it, at NC Stage, across from Zambra.
Saturday evening benefit for Joel (of Static Age, who recently discovered he needs immediate spinal surgery)
Ten bands at Izzy’s in West Asheville, $3 (raffle) tickets.
Tickets are available at both izzy’s and you can probably find ’em around lexington ave.
Correction: Joel’s Benefit is a 12-hour party. Party all day.
Also, please don’t list house parties, esp. when they are on my street!